brewster



2 Sheets-Sheet 1A P W. BREWSTER.

(No Model.)

LIFE HAFT.

Patented De0. 14, 1886.

N. PETERS. Mmmhagmp (No Model.) 2 Sheets -Sheet'2.

F. W. BREWSTER.

LIFE RAFT.

No. 354,386. lPaentd Deo. 14, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEo FRANoIs wnrfrwonfrn Banws'rnn, or KnNsrNe'roN, ooUNrY or MIDDLE- i snX, ENGLAND.

LIFE-RAFT.

SPECIFICATION formng part of Letters Patent No. 354,386, dated December 14.1886.

Application filcd July S, 1886. Serial No. 207,420.

(No model.) Patcntcd in England December 31, 18S3,No. 5,993, and in France July 31, 1884, No. 188,571.

.T cZZ whom, it may concern: i

Be it known that I, FRANers '*nN'rwonrI-r BREWSTER, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Ken.

sington, in the county of Middlesex, England, manufacturer of life-saving appliances, have invented certain Iinproveinents in Life-Rafts, (for which I have obtained British Letters Patent No. 5,993, dated December 31, 1883,

[O and French Letters Patent No. 163,571, dated July 31, 1884,) of which the following is a i specification.

This invention relates to an improved formation of life raft or boat, built upon the r 5 twin-hulled,7 prinoiple-that is, with separate hul1s,pontons, or floating parts, to which the dech, platform, or earrying part of the structure or the part not immersed is connected, and upon the buoyan'cy of which pontons or immersed parts the superstructure or part not immersed wholly, or nearly so, de'

pends for its support.

I lay no claim to the principle of constructing life-rafts with two or more pontons as being new, as I am aware thatboats or craftconstructed upon various modifications of this principle have been introduced from time to time; but the present improvements relate principally to an improved method of uniting the pontons by a novel arrangement and construction of superstructure, the principal ob- `iects of the invention beingto construct such rafts so that they will be more generally serviceable, more easily navigable, and capable of affording both outside and inside accommodation, and better shclter and protection to the occupants from the sea and weather than any like craft hitherto constructed, and to improve the sailing qualities of such eraft, and 40,1'ender them capable of Sailing rapidly and making a minimum oflceway.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a broadside elevation of my improved construction of life-raft. Fig. 2 represents a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 represents an end elevation thereof 5 and Fig. 4 represents a transverse section through the line a b, Fig. 2.

According to this invention the pontons 1 are connected at opposite parts at or toward each end, and at one or more intermediate parts of their length (depending principally upon the length, formation, and weight of the superstructure) by angle and shcet iron girder-stays or equivalentsupporls 2, of an arched or saddle forination, and which may bebolted or otherwise suitably sccured to the top or inner or outer sides of the ponton, or may be contiuued round the same, either inside or out side, to form part of the framing thereof. Forward and aft of such stays there are su pplementary stays 3, for affording the necessary rigidity to the connection and the accommodation hereinafter referred to. The spaces divided off' and bounded by the girder-stays 2 are inclosed by sheet metal or other suitable material, 4, and upon the bottom and top surfaces of such stays longitudinal battens 5, preferably of iron or wood, are placed. This formation affords inner com partments, clear of and above the level of the pontons, of such a con- 7; formation as will permit of rescued persons getting thereinto and of their sitting in an` easy position, from which no sudden inotion of the raft will be liable to displace them, on the bottom of such oompartments, back to 7 5 baclgwith their feet rcstingagainst foot-boards 6, running lengthwise of the eompartments, and with their backs resting` against a central 'longitudinal division, 7, the formation of the i upper part of such compartments affording ample accommodation for the movement of their knees. The conformation of the upper and outer part of such compartments is also specially adapted for the sitting accommodation of the crew, and of other resoued persons, 8 5

should there not be suffieient room for all the latter within the superstructure, such other persons sitting in the same direction, and above those within the compartuients. Access is provided into each of such compartments by openings and sliding doors 8, adapted to the upper part of the superstructure. VVhere it is not required 4that such spaces, as aforesaid, should be wholly inclosed, the upper part or parts thereof of the said inclosing metal or material 4 may be dispensed with.

On each side of the superstructure and above the pontons there is constructed a lona gitudinal footway or platform, 9, of similar longitudinal battens, laid above the said girder-stays 2 3, and above each such platform there are adapted at suitable intervals transverse seats and foot-boards 11, for use of the navigators of the craft when rowing, and along the outer side of each such platform there is adapted a light construction of hand rail and framing, 12, which serves also for the purpose of supporting the seats 10 and carrying the rowlocks 13, and such other means as are or may be necessary for the use of such navigators and for effecting the manual propulsion of the craft.

At the rear of the rear inner compartment there is arranged a transverse platform or gangway, 14, formed by a grating or by battens,5, resting upon the stays and adapted with a convenient transverse hand-rail, 12, and forward of the said fore inner compartment a compartment, 15, is formed for the storage and carrying of provisions and any necessary articles, andat this end also a handrail, 12, is similarly arranged The pontons may be divided off into watertight compartments7 and in that 'or those centrally of the length of the pontons a supply of fresh or potable water may be carried, and which may also serve as ballast, and can be replaced by pumping in sea-Water, if desired, for the latter purpose. r

At 16 provision is afforded for a mast at either or both ends, so that the craft may be sailed or propelled by oars, as circumstances render expedient; and for the purpose of steering the craft there is adapted to the stern of each ponton a rudder, 17, the tillers of the two rudders being connected to racked rods 18, which are actuated in rcverse directions by gearing 19 on shafts 20 upon the desired movement being given to either the inner or outer tiller-handles, 21, on a Vertical spindle, 22, passing up into or through the said rear compartment and actuating both shafts 20, so that both rudders may be simultaneously turned, as required.

The battens 5 5X being connected to each of the girder-stays 2, serve as'longitudinal stays thereto, and thus afford a Very rigid connection thereof; but, if required, there may be diagonal tie-rods 23, running under the superstructure, or additional longitudinal strengthening parts 21k above it, and other tie-rods may be adapted under and in a line with the seats, or elsewhere, as eonvenient, transversely of the craft and running straight through the superstrueture.

The top surface of the pontons is made of a raised or arched formation, so that all Water which may fall thereon will at once run away on each side, and the fore end, 25, is more highly raised, and to the inner sides of the pontons drop-keels 26 are attached in suitable positions.

The front and rear of the bottom of the superstructure are fiared so as to ride well above the water and prevent any swamping when vside platforms. of i i,

One of the special features of the said improved formation of superstrueture is that faoilities are provided by the peculiar formation of the covered arched connection between the pontoons for a considerable number of men sitting, reclining, or bearingupon it, and clinging to its outside surface by means of gratings, life-lines, or other holdfasts with which it is or would be provided, while at the same time affording good protection to all who may have been placed Within the internal porton or compartments from the violence of the wind and water, as the superstructure i's or may bc completely covered in, and is well raised above the water.

In a modification of the above construction the center of the underside of the superstructure may be hinged along` its whole length, thus enabling the raft to collapse or be taken completely asunder by drawing out the rod acting as the center-pin of the hinges. The eX- ternal sitting accommodation may also be adapted to the superstructure as to be detachable therefrom, and so that it can be secured against the bulwarks of a ship or vessel to afford ordinary sitting accommodation, and when constructed of appropriate dimensions the entire raft in a usable condition may be placed over the saloon-skylight, forming a seat on each side.

I claim-as my invention- 1. The combination, with outlying pontons 1, of a raised superstructure rigidly connecting such pontons, and adapted for support` ing rescued persons and others within bit in a sheltered position and on its outer sides, and of a construction comprising as essential parts arched or saddle-shaped transverse girderstays 2 3, connecting the pontons and dividing` the superstructure into compartments, longitudinal battens 5 5 connecting the stays 2 8 and affording inner and outer sitting accommodations, sheet metal 4, partly or wholly inclosing the space boundcd by the stays 2 and battens 5, but affording access to the inclosed compartments, and side platforms, 9, as herein set forth.

2. The arched or saddle-shaped transverse girder -stays 2, adapted for connecting the outlying pontons and for dividing the superstructure into compartments and for supporting inner and outer sitting accommodation, in combination with the inclosing sheet metal 4, flared at the fore and aft ends, longitudinal battens 5, connecting the Stays and affording the said inner and outer sitting accommodations, the back-rest 7, inner foot-boards, 6, outer side platforms, 9, side rails, 12, seats 10, and foot-boards 11, as herein set forth.

8. In combination With the arched or saddle-shaped transverse girder-stays 2, adapted for conneetng the outlying pontons and for dividing the superstructure into compartments and for` supporting the inner and outer seating accommodations, the inclosing Sheet metal 4, flared at the fore and aft ends, 1ongi tudinal battens 5, eonneoting the Stays and affording the inner and onter seating accommodations, the back-rest 7, inner foot-boards, 

